layman



(No Model.)

J. H.. LAYMAN. SPRING SEAT POST FOR BIGYGLBS.

No. 582,864. Patented Mabyv 18, 1897.

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JAMES H. LAYMAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO DANIEL M. SEOHLER, OF SAME PLACE.

SPRING SEAT-POST FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,864, dated May 18, 1897. Application iled December 9, 1896. Serial No. 615.05 7. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. LAYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, havel invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Seat-Posts for Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention comprises a specific combination of devices for adjusting vertically seatposts of bicycles, the details of said combination being hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is an axial section showing my seat-post applied to a bicycle-standard, the post being seen in its normal position. Fig. 2 shows said post and its lower guide detached from the standard, a nut on the post being so turned around as toV expose a vertical groove in one of its sides. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the standard and seat-post spindle, taken directly above said nut.

A represents the upper portion of an ordinary tubular standard for supporting a bicycle seat or saddle, which standard should be as nearly vertical as circumstances will admit; but the lower part thereof may be curved or bent forward, as at a, to clear the rear wheel of the vehicle.

B is a coupling that permits the rear brace or fork C to be united to the top bar Doi' a bicycle-frame, and E is a customary clampbolt wherewith said coupling is tightened.

The upper end of coupling B is threaded externally at b to permit the ready engagement of a cap F, which may beheld against accidental turning by one or more set-screws Gr.

Cap F has an upward prolongation f to afford a somewhat extended guide for the seatpost proper, H, in the rear of which is a longitudinal groove h, that receives the point of a screw I, the latter being tapped in said pro` longation, and said post being provided with a cross-bar J, to which a seat or saddle may be applied in any convenient manner.

Projecting down from the post and preferably integral therewith is a spindle K, the upper portion of which is threaded at k to engage with a non-rotatable nut L, having a vertical groove Z, traversed by an internal rib M of the tubular standard A. The rib may be brazed or otherwise fastened in place and should be suficiently long to admit of any possible vertical play of the nut.

N is a cup-shaped guide brazed or otherwise secured within the standard and having a central orifice n, through which is passed the lower portion of spindle K. Surrounding this spindle and interposed between the nut L and guide N is a coiled spring O of suflifficient strength to support any ordinary rider.

P is a pad, of leather or rubber or other suitable material, which pad or cushion is interposed between the cap F and the upper end of standard A and coupling B.

R is a collar or disk-n ut that normally bears against the under side of said pad.l This collar is in contact with the lower end of seatpost H and is held in position by a nut S.

My attachment is first fitted together and then applied to a bicycle-frame in the following manner: All the parts being separated from each other and screw I completely retracted, the post H is passed through the bore of cap Ff, and then the pad Pis slipped over the lower end of said post. CollarR is then screwed up against the lower end of the post and is held in position by nut S, after which act the other nut L is engaged with the screw 7a and is run up almost to the top thereof. Spring O is now passed over the spindle K, and the latteris inserted within the standard A, care being taken to cause the lower portion of said spindle to traverse the perforated guide N n and to have the rib M engage with the groove Z of nut L. Cap F is next engaged with the coupling thread b, and the setscrews G being run home there is no danger of said cap being accidentally turned either to the right or left. Post II is finally turned so as to cause its seat-bar J to be in line with the top bar D of the frame and cause the groove 7L of said post to be in line with the screw I, which latter is now advanced so as to occupy said groove and prevent accidental turning of said post. This normal position of the attachment is seen in Fig. 1, :reference to which illustration shows that the stress of IOO spring O keeps the disk R in contact with the pad P, and if a rider should mount the seat the spring would be more or less compressed.

It is evident the seat-post is free to play up and down within the range afforded by its groove h, and it is also evident there can be no turning of the nut L because its groove Z is engaged with the rib M.

If it should be found that the spring is not sufficiently stiff to support a rider, the screw I is retracted until it is clear of the groove 7L, after which act the crossbar J is grasped and the post H is so turned as to cause the spindle-screw 7.; to force the nut L down a suitable distance within the standard A, thereby stiifening said spring until its tension is properly adjusted to the riders weight. As soon as this adjustment is effected, screw I is again run into the groove 7L to prevent accidental turning of the seat-post. If, however, the spring should be too stii for a rider, the difficulty can be readily overcome by simply reversing the above-described operations-that is to say, by turning` the seatpost in such a manner as to elevate the nut within the standard.

From this description it is evident any dcgree of tension lnay be readily imparted to the spring by simply turning the seat-post either to the right or left and without removing a single part of the attachment or employing a wrench or other tool.

I claim as my invention- The standard A, having an inwardly-projecting rib M, and a fixed guide N, perforated at n; a cap F, secured upon said standard, and having a prolongation f; a screw I engaged with said prolongation; a seat-post Il, traversing said cap and prolongation, grooved longitudinally at 7L, to admit the point of said screw, and having a spindle K,sorewthreadcd externally at 7c; a non-rotatable nut L, grooved vertically on one side, as at l, to admit said rib M, and engaged with said screw 7c; a coiled spring O, surrounding said spindle K, and interposed between said guide N n, and nut L l, and supporting the latter; a collar R, carried by the spindle; and a pad P, secured between said standard A, and cap F; the collar R being normally in contact with said pad, all combined in a vclocipede in the manner described, and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES li. LAYMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. Rocnns, J. W. LAYMAN. 

